Scalby School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key Findings

This is a good school.

It is not yet outstanding because teaching across the school, while good overall, is not consistently strong enough to ensure that all students make exceptional progress. Achievement is good. Attainment is above average and students make good progress in their work.

Some make outstanding progress though progress is not consistently good or better for all groups of students. The quality of teaching is good. Senior and middle leaders have an accurate understanding of the strengths and areas for development in teaching.

There is a resolute determination to raise its quality to outstanding. In the very best lessons, teachers use engaging strategies to enable all stu...dents to make good and outstanding progress. However, in some lessons tasks set are not well matched to the needs of learners and opportunities are missed for students to develop as independent learners.

Moreover, systems to develop students' literacy and numeracy skills are not fully embedded across the curriculum. Behaviour and safety are good. Students have positive attitudes to learning.

Their attendance is average but it is improving. They feel safe and parents and carers overwhelming agree that their children are well looked after. However, the number of fixed-term exclusions involving a very small minority of students is too high.

Leadership and management are outstanding. Senior leaders are extremely well focused and have achieved much since the last inspection. The school's development of students' spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness is a strength, as is the system of pastoral care and guidance and the curriculum.

Since coming out of special measures, the focus on improving achievement, strengthening teaching and learning and improving behaviour has helped to drive up attainment and embed improvements in examination results.

Information about the school

Scalby School is an average-sized secondary school. Most students are of White British heritage.

The proportion of students who speak English as an additional language is well below average. The proportion of students known to be eligible for free school meals is slightly below average. Whereas the proportion of students at School Action is above average, the proportion at School Action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is below average.

Most of these students have behaviour, emotional and social difficulties or specific learning difficulties. The number of students who start or leave the school at different times of the school year is below the national average. The school meets the government's current floor standard, which sets the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress.

At the previous inspection in March 2010 the school was judged to no longer require special measures. A new headteacher joined the school in September 2010. The school was awarded the International School Award in May 2011.

Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms